The book delves into both events and rumors related to the Roman emperors. It examines what exactly they did, why they did it, and why the related narratives are often filled with extreme, sometimes gruesome acts. It focuses on their exercise of power, corruption phenomena, conspiracies, and their daily lives. What did they eat and where? With whom did they share their bed? What means did they use to travel?

The protagonists in the book are about thirty emperors and their consorts, who ruled the Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar, who was assassinated in 44 BC, to Alexander Severus, who was also assassinated in 235.